Apple appoints Sabih Khan as its new COO, to take charge later this month

Sabih Khan

In a significant leadership transition, Apple announced that Sabih Khan, senior vice president of Operations, will take over as chief operating officer later this month, succeeding longtime Apple veteran Jeff Williams.

Williams, a key figure at Apple for 27 years, will continue reporting to CEO Tim Cook in the interim, overseeing the company’s design team, Apple Watch, and health initiatives. Upon his retirement, the design team will report directly to Cook.

Khan was born in 1966 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, his family moved to Singapore when he was in grade 5. Khan, a 30-year Apple veteran who joined the executive team in 2019, has long been considered a key architect of Apple’s supply chain.

“Sabih is a brilliant strategist who has been one of the central architects of Apple’s supply chain,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “While overseeing Apple’s supply chain, he has helped pioneer new technologies in advanced manufacturing, overseen the expansion of Apple’s manufacturing footprint in the United States, and helped ensure that Apple can be nimble in response to global challenges,” Cook added.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Sabih for 27 years,” said Williams. “I think he’s the most talented operations executive on the planet.”

Khan earned bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

Williams has been a central figure in shaping Apple’s global supply chain, health strategy, and design direction. He played a crucial role in the development of the iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch, and is credited with building the operational muscle that helped Apple scale globally across regions like India, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.

“Apple wouldn’t be what it is without him,” said CEO Tim Cook, paying tribute to Williams’ legacy of operational excellence and leadership. “His true legacy can be seen in the amazing team he’s created.”